Automated washing system for cleaning,sanitizing and drying flexible tubing or the like



'March 17, 1970 1.. F. BENDER 3,

SANITIZING AND DRYING FLEXIBLE TUBING OR THE LIKE AUTOMATED WASHINGSYSTEM FOR CLEANING,

Filed May '7. 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 mvEN-roz: LLOYD 555N052 BY: WATTORNEY March 17, 1970 L. F. BENDER 3,500,339

AUTQMATED WASHING SYSTEM FQR CLEANING, SANITIZING AND DRYING FLEXIBLETUBING OR THE LIKE Filed May 7, 1968 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Q VAC.

INVENTOKZ LLOYD E BEA/D52 EN.- fiQM Z. 77%

ATTORNEY March 17, 1970 L. F. BENDER 3,500,839

AUTOMATED WASHING SYSTEMFOR CLEANING, SANITlZING AND DRYING FLEXIBLETUBING OR THE LIKE Filed May 7, 1968 Sheets-Sheet 3 PRESS.

Swrrcn I TIME? Z9 MoroR I o 5 no :5 3o so 1:12AM VA we VALV x VALVE.

VALVE-VD TI ER ACID VALVE mvsm-az LLOYD E BEA/DEE AT'I'OE NEY UnitedStates Patent 3 500,839 AUTOMATED WASHING SYSTEM FOR CLEANING,SANITIZING AND DRYING FLEXIBLE TUBING OR THE LIKE Lloyd F. Bender,Hayward, Wis. 54843 Filed May 7, 1968, Ser. No. 727,200 Int. Cl. B08b3/10, 9/02 US. Cl. 13457 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A washingapparatus includes a fluid circuit for conducting a cleansing solutionthrough conveying conduits and also includes drying means for :blowingheated air through the conduits after they are cleaned. The apparatusfurther includes a shiftable valve means for the fluids and electricalcontrol means for sequentially operating the valve means and dryingmeans in proper timed relationship.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention pertains to thecleaning of fluid conveying equipment and has automatic electriccontrols for the sequential operation of various cleaning, sanitizingand drying cycles.

The invention provides automatic cleaning equipment which is able toutilize certain components that are also used in fluid conveying systemsof the type shown in my US. Patent 3,273,514, issued on Sept. 20, 1966,and entitled Fluid Conveying Apparatus, US. Patent 3,191,576, issuedJune 29, 1965, and entitled Milk Line Releaser and Washer Apparatus, orin my co-pending US. application Ser. No. 638,413, filed May 15, 1967,entitled Portable, Automatic Washing Unit for Tanks, now Patent No.3,448,742, issued June 10, 1969.

With the advent of flexible, plastic tubing or the like in the dairyindustry, means must be provided for the operator to completely clean,sanitize and dry this tubing in accordance with various health codes,and this should be accomplished with as little additional expense aspossible to the operator. This cleaning should also be accomplished withlittle change over time and without requiring attention or supervisionby the operator. These functions and objectives are accomplished by thepresent invention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides an automaticwashing system for cleaning and drying flexible tubing of milk handlingequipment or the like and includes electric control means forautomatically cycling the apparatus through various steps in thecleaning and drying operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGURE 1 is a schematic view of awashing system embodying the present invention, certain parts beingshown as broken away or in section for clarity in the drawings;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view, taken along line 22 in FIGURE 1, but on anenlarged scale, and showing the solenoid operated slide valve for thewasher releaser;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the control box shown in FIGURE 1, but on anenlarged scale, with certain parts shown as being broken away forclarity;

FIGURE 4 is a cross sectional view of one of the twoway valves shown inFIGURE 1, but on an enlarged scale;

FIGURE 5 is an electrical wiring diagram used with the presentinvention;

3,500,839 Patented Mar. 17, 1970 DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERREDEMBODIMENTS FIGURE 1 shows the general organization of one form of theinvention and includes a fluid circulating means FCM which takes theform of an electrically timed washer-releaser, solution tank T forholding the clear water, washing solution or rinse solution, theelectrical automatic control means AC, the air heating means such as anelectric dryer D; the two solenoid operated two-way valves which areactivated by vacuum, one valve being an intake valve VI and the other adischarge valve VD; and the flexible tubing FT which is to be completelycleaned and dried with the present invention.

It will be appreciated that other forms of fluid circulating means suchas a pressure pump (not shown), other forms of two-way valves, may alsobe used with the present invention.

FLUID CIRCULATING MEANS Referring in greater detail to FIGURE 1, thewasherreleaser type of fluid circulating means FCM may be of the generaltype shown and described in my aforesaid US. Patent 3,273,514. Thewasher-releaser would include the hollow vessel 1 of spherical shape andtransparent material which has an integral fluid discharge conduit 3extending downwardly from its lowermost side, and a one-way dump valve3a, such as shown in my Patent 3,352,248, of Nov. 14, 1967, forreleasing fluid when the vessel is opened to atmosphere. The vessel hasa fluid inlet 4 at its upper end and a vacuum conduit 5 adjacent itsupper end and to which is attached by a conduit 6, a slide valve SV. Theslide valve is electrically operated by a timer 7 driven by an electricmotor 7a so as to alternately subject the vessel to a vacuum fromconduit 8, or to the atmosphere via an opening 9 in the slide 10 of thevalve. If a more complete description of the valve SV is deemed to beeither necessary or desirable, reference may be had to the said Patent3,273,514. It is believed suflicient to say that a vacuum pump motor 11provides the vacuum to which conduit 8 is attached. As the timer 7causes either one of the solenoids 13 or 14 (FIGURES 2 and 5) to shiftthe slide in one direction or the other, either vacuum is drawn from thevessel 1 or alternatively, the vessel is opened to atmosphere. When thevessel is subjected to vacuum, it draws fluid from conduit 15 attachedto its inlet 4, and when the vessel is opened to atmosphere, fluid isreleased via valve 3a and to the conduit 17 attached to the vesseldischarge conduit 3.

Thus the washer-releaser FCM acts as a pump to draw fluid into thevessel and then release the fluid.

DRYER The dryer D is an air heater and blower and may be of the typeshown in US. Patent 3,067,756, issued Dec. 11, 1962, and includes anelectric motor which draws air in through its enlarged end 18 and forcesthe air, after it is heated, out of its restricted outlet 19.

TANK

The tank T includes a closeable drain 20 at its bottom and when thedrain is closed, as will appear, the tank can hold either clear water, awashing solution, or a rinse solution. The tank is filled or emptied bythe action of the electrically operated, automatic control means AC, tobe described.

CONTROL MEANS The box 22 for the control means AC is preferably 3mounted directly on the tank and houses some of the components shown inthe electrical diagram of FIGURE 5.

Drain closing means in the form of a drain stopper 23 is fixed on thelower end of a rod 24 which extends downwardly from the box 22. The rod24 is vertically shiftable in a bushing 25 fixed on the bottom of box 22and a spring 26 biases the rod downwardly to normally close the drain.An electric solenoid 27 is connected to the top end of rod 24 and isenergized by a timer 29, via cam 30, to cause the rod and stopper toraise, thus opening the tank drain 20.

A pair of water hoses 33 and 34 are connectible to conventional spigots(not shown) of cold and hot water lines, respectively, for furnishingthe necessary Water. The water flows through lines 33 and 34 (FIGURE 3),through a mixer valve 35 which is operated by a solenoid 36 and down afeeder tube 37 into the tank T.

Hot Water from line 34 can also be diverted by a hot water valve 38,operated by solenoid 39, into a jar 40 of detergent and carriesdetergent via tube 41 into the feeder tube 37 and thus into tank T.

The timer 29 also has a cam 42 (FIGURE 5) causing actuation of thesolenoid coils of the solenoids 36 or 39 (FIGURES 3 and 5). As willappear later, the timer is arranged so that the tank will first fill,for example, with Water at about 95 temperature for the first rinse. Thetank later fills with hot water including detergent and after thatwashing cycle, the tank is again filled with clear water for the finalrinse during which a measured amount of acid, from container 43(FIGURE 1) and its vacuum actuated pump 43a (FIGURES 1 and 3), may bedispensed into the rinse solution. More specifically, the addition ofthe acid is regulated by cam 44 (FIG- URE 5) which actuates the solenoidcoil 43b (FIGURES 3 and 5) which in turn operates a vacuum valve 43cthat admits vacuum via line 43d to pump 43a.

The level of the fluid in tank T is controlled by a normally closedpressure switch 45 which causes the closing of the solenoid operatedwater valve. The pressure switch 45 is activated by a predeterminedlevel of the fluid in a pressure tube 46 which extends from the switch45 down into the tank T, and the switch 45 thus regulates the watervalves and consequently the flow of water into the tank.

TWO-WAY VALVES The intake valve VI is operated by the solenoid 50(FIGURES 3 and 5), which is energized from the 25 ampere contactor 51,and which solenoid operates a vacuum valve 50a. Valve 50a permitssuction to be applied via conduit 50b to shift the spring returned valveVI. This valve is of the two-way type and its spool 52 (FIG- URE 4) isshiftable to permit either (1) fluid from the tank T to be picked up inconduit 53 and conducted via conduit 54 to the flexible tubing FT to becleaned; or (2) hot air to be blown from the dryer D which is driven byelectric motor 57, through conduit 55 and into conduit 54 for drying thetubing FT.

The discharge valve VD is constructed like and operates in the samemanner as valve VI, but it serves to return solution which is receivedfrom the releaser to the tank via conduit 58 (FIGURE 1), or it divertsor dumps fluid to a waste drain or the like via conduit 59. Thedischarge valve is operated by the solenoid coil 61 which is energizedby a cam 62 of the timer 29. More specifically, coil 61 operates avacuum valve 63 which admits vacuum via conduit 64 to the springreturned valve VD.

The timer 29 also has another cam 65 which, through coil 66 of a 40ampere contactor 67, actuates the vacuum pump motor 11 and the timer 7of the fluid circulating means FCM.

Thus, the 25 ampere contactor 51 controls the dryer D and the two-wayvalve VI.

The 40 ampere contactor 67 controls the vacuum pump motor 11 and thetimer 7 of the fluid circulating means.

4 OPERATION When it is desired to clean the flexible tubing FT withoutunwinding it from the portable tank cart 75 on which it is mounted,conduits 15 and 54 are connected to the flexible tubing at the quickdetachable points 15a and 54a, respectively, to place it incommunication with the fluid circulating means FCM and the intake valveVI. Alternatively, the flexible tubing can be connected directly to thewasher-releaser and valve VI without the use of separate conduits 15 and54.

A chart showing the timer sequence is shown by way of example in FIGURE6. The timer knob 77 is set to the on position and the tank fills withdegree water. After the tank is filled, the motor 11 will start tooperate the fluid circulating means for a rinse cycle, say five minutes,the normally open intake valve VI permitting fluid from the tank T toflow to the flexible tubing. The discharge valve VD at this time divertsthe rinse fluid to the drain. The drain stopper in the tank then isopened when the solenoid 27 is energized for, say three minutes, toallow the tank to drain.

Solenoid 50 is then energized and valve VI shifts, and dryer motor 57and vacuum pump 11 then both operate. After the tank is emptied,solenoid 27 is de-energized and drain stopper 23 is then closed byspring 26 and the dryer D stops. The tank T then fills with hot watermixed with detergent and the vacuum pump motor 11 then operates, forsay, ten minutes, to wash the tubing FT. The drain stopper 23 then againopens the tank drain for three minutes to drain the tank T and the dryerD and vacuum motor 11 both operate.

The drain stopper 23 is closed again by spring 26 and the dryer D stops.The tank T again fills to the set level with 95 degree water.

After the tank T is filled, the fluid circulating means FCM functionsfor a five minute rinse period. After about one minute has elapsed inthe rinse period, a measured amount of acid will be dispensed into therinse solution.

The drain stopper then opens for eight minutes and the dryer motor andmotor 11 operate.

The drain stopper closes and the dryer, vacuum pump and fluidcirculating means also stop.

By this time the timer has rotated to the off position, the entirewashing and drying operation having been completed.

What I claim is: 1. Apparatus for automatically washing and drying fluidconduits and comprising a fluid tank having an openable drain, drainclosing means, supply means for supplying water to said tank, fluidcirculating means in fluid receiving communication with a conduit to bewashed and dried, a dryer for heating and blowing air;

shiftable intake valve means when in one position being in fluidreceiving communication with said tank whereby fluid from said tank isconducted through said conduit to wash the latter, said intake valvemeans when in another position being in air receiving communication withsaid dryer whereby air is forced through said conduit to dry the latter;

shiftable discharge valve means having a fluid receiving connection withsaid fluid circulating means, and when said discharge valve means is inone position fluid from said circulating means is discharged into saidtank, and when said discharge valve means is in another position'fluidfrom said circulating means is dumped;

and electric control means including a timer, said control meansoperative to (1) actuate said water supply means to fill said tank, (2)actuate said fluid circulating means, (3) actuate said drain closingmeans, (4) shift the positions of both of said valve means, and (5)actuate said dryer.

2. A system for automatically washing and drying fluid conduits, saidsystem comprising, a fluid tank having an openable drain, drain closingmeans, supply means for supplying Water to said tank, fluid circulatingmeans in fluid receiving communication with a conduit to be washed anddried, a dryer for heating and blowing air;

a two-way intake valve when in one position being in fluid receivingcommunication with said tank whereby fluid from said tank is conductedthrough said conduit to wash the latter, said intake valve when inanother position being in air receiving communication with said dryerwhereby air is forced through said conduit to dry the latter;

a two-way discharge valve having a fluid receiving connection with saidfluid circulating means and when said discharge valve is in one positionfluid from circulating means is discharged into said tank, and when saiddischarge valve is in another position fluid from said circulating meansis dumped;

and electrical control means including a timer, said control meansoperative to 1) actuate said water supply means to fill said tank, (2)actuate said fluid circulating means, (3) actuate said drain closingmeans, (4) shift the positions of said two-Way valves, and (5) actuatesaid dryer, all in timed sequence.

3. Apparatus for automatically washing and drying fluid conduits andcomprising, a fluid tank having an openable drain, shiftable drainclosing means, supply means for supplying water to said tank, fluidcirculating means in fluid receiving communication with a conduit to bewashed and dried, a dryer including an electric motor for heating andblowing air;

a two-way intake valve when in one position being in fluid receivingcommunication with said tank Whereby fluid from said tank is conductedthrough said conduit to wash the latter, said intake valve when inanother position being in air receiving communication with said dryerwhereby air is forced through said conduit to dry the latter;

a two-way discharge valve having a fluid receivin connection with saidfluid circulating means and when said discharge valve is in one positionfluid from said circulating means is discharged into said tank, and whensaid discharge valve is in another position fluid from said circulatingmeans is dumped;

said two-Way valves having shiftable valve spools of the solenoidactuated and spring returned type, and electric control means includinga timer and electric solenoid means, said control means operative to (1)actuate said water supply means to fill said tank, (2) actuate saidfluid circulating means, (3) shift said drain closing means, (4) shiftthe spools of said two-way valves, and (5) actuate the electric motor ofsaid dryer, all in timed sequence.

4. A system for automatically washing and drying fluid conduits, saidsystem comprising: a fluid tank having an openable drain, shiftabledrain closing means, and pressure tube means extending from said tank tosense the fluid level therein, solenoid controlled supply means forsupplying water to said tank, fluid circulating means in fluid receivingcommunication with a conduit to be washed and dried, a dryer for heatingand blowing air;

a two-way intake valve when in one position being in fluid receivingcommunication with said tank whereby fluid from said tank is conductedthrough said conduit to Wash the latter, said intake valve when inanother position being in air receiving communication with said dryerwhereby air is forced through said conduit to dry the latter;

a two-way discharge valve having a fluid receiving connection with saidfluid circulating means and when said discharge valve is in one positionfluid from said circulating means is discharged into said tank, and whensaid discharge valve is in another position fluid from said circulatingmeans is dumped;

and electriic control means including a timer, electric solenoid means,and a pressure sensitive switch connected with said pressure tube means,said control means operative to (1) actuate said solenoid controlledsupply means to fill said tank, (2) actuate said fluid circulatingmeans, (3) actuate said shiftable drain closing means, (4) shift thepositions of said two-way valves, and (5) actuate said dryer, all intimed sequence.

5. A system for automatically washing and drying fluid conduits, saidsystem comprising: a fluid tank having an openable drain, shiftabledrain closing means, and pressure tube means extending from said tank tosense the fluid level therein, solenoid controlled supply means forsupplying Water to said tank, fluid circulating means in fluid receivingcommunication with a conduit to be washed and dried, a dryer for heatingand blowing air;'

a two-way intake valve when in one position being in fluid receivingcommunication with said tank whereby fluid from said tank is conductedthrough said conduit to wash the latter, said intake valve when inanother position being in air receiving communication with said dryerwhereby air is forced through said conduit to dry the latter;

a two-way discharge valve having a fluid receiving con nection with saidfluid circulating means and when said discharge valve is in one positionfluid from said circulating means is discharged into said tank and whensaid discharge valve is in another position fluid from said circulatingmeans is dumped;

said two-Way valves having shiftable valve spools of the solenoidactuated and spring returned type, and electric control means includinga timer, electric solenoid means, and a pressure sensitive switchconnected with said pressure tube means, said control means o erative to(1) actuate said water solenoid controlled supply means to fill saidtank, (2) actuate said fluid circulating means, (3) actuate saidshiftable drain closing means, (4) shift the spools of said two-wayvalves, and (5) actuate said dryer, all in timed sequence.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS,

DANIEL BLUM, Primary Examiner US. Cl. X.R.

